I should of mention that I'm not a fan of the PEQ. My Concord 2 (82-83) and this one ( 83-84) are both wired in series, under the guard. I have installed traditional (Fender style) tone controls. I'm a Fender guy and the PEQ adds a slight midrange hump and I don't like that ala Musicman. Musicman is a great bass but not for my playing style and music. They own slap and funk.

As a reference for wire designation- The light colors are positive and the dark colors are negative.

P set- E & A Red- + Blue- -

D & G White- + Or- -

J -(Bridge)

E & A-Or- +Green- -

D & G-Red- +Blue- -

By installing the traditional tone controls the bass is clearly more open and deep with clarity. Some may not agree with me but after a lot of trial & error with wiring experiments , this is what I like. You're right on bringing the pickup closer but you're open to overtones. If you have access to a strobe tuner, like a Peterson, you can see that the graph vibrates, even though in tune, if the the pickup is too close. I may be getting too geeky technical but the basses do sound better and even with the pickups set correctly. If you have enough power, amp wise, that will take care of any sound loss.

The only reason I brought it up is because the series works with a Jazz bass config. Fender's name for it is known as having a S1 switching. It's a push button series /parallel switch built into the neck J pickup volume control. In other basses I bought the push pull version, much cheaper with same effect.

It works in a 2 pickup config not in a P.

I don't have to have it. The bass sounds great in the neck and middle settings. The rear pickup is half the volume and bass content. . I had a spare Jazz pickup that I tried with no change. It sounded the same. The pickup I used was a Nordstand. The front (P) is oh so powerful, kind of overbearing and it's been lowered and still very strong.

Hi pbman.I gig westone thunder pj basses every week, and the only way you are going to equal out the volume is a combination of eq and distance from strings.The peak frequencies at p and j areas are slightly different. And failing that a quick volume tweak never hurt anyone, except maybe the guitar player.

I've already lowered the P set and still it's very powerful. I'll have to rely on the volume control or get a super hot bridge pickup. Over all I'll probably leave it as is. I just learned about Westone's a few months ago and they are truly a hidden gem. kind of blown away by the quality

Just tried out my Concord II bass this am. again.There's a slight volume drop but not all that much of course the tone is also brighter at the bridge.Not a huge drop as you suggest. What does your pup read on a meter?

Last edited by Westbone on Thu Dec 04, 2014 10:58 am; edited 1 time in total

You're right . this is my second Concord 2. My first was purchased in the summer and it's a 82/83 in Pearl. I removed the PEQ, it's not for me. I'm sure many like it but it is smoother with out it, IMHO. I wired a traditional tone control and cap.

What's funny how so many players never seen the Westone's before. But the nitty gritty old timers do remember them and also Matsumoko.

I'm totally impressed and I'd put this against any Fender assembly line Custom Shop.